United no longer offers early boarding for passengers with children

Zachary Cunningham, 5, waits after his family's ATA Arilines flight for his two week vacation to Hawaii. (AP)

As if it wasn't hard enough traveling by air with children, United Airlines won't be offering early boarding to families in coach with small children.

United quietly made the policy shift in late April and joins other airlines including American Airlines and US Airways that have dropped family pre-boarding.

The airline says the move was "to simplify the boarding process and to reduce the overall number of boarding groups," United spokesman Charles Hobart told USA Today.

Previously, families with small children flying coach were allowed on the aircraft before general boarding -- a convenience for parents to get their children and their things stowed before the crush of passengers. But now, as more airlines charge for priority boarding, passengers are more willing to pay to guarantee space in the overhead bins for their luggage --space that could be taken by early boarders.

George Hobica from Airfare Watchdog says the policy shift was a business savvy move on United's part.

"With the merger of United and Continental, the combined airline has managed to alienate many of its most valued frequent flyers. Allowing first, business and elite level members to board first and get first crack at the overhead bins, ahead of even families with small children, is one way to salve the wounds," said Hobica.

Of course parents can still pay to board early and avoid the mad dash on the plane. Priority boarding programs begin at $9 and up, so a family of four can now expect to pay $36 or more for the privilege.

Or, if you don't want to pay, Hobica says families waiting to board last could be a good thing. "Many families with small children tell me that they prefer boarding last anyway, since that's an extra half hour or more that their little ones won't be squirming in their seats. So it's a win-win."

Other airlines, including JetBlue Airways, Virgin America and Delta Air Lines, still offer the early boarding convenience for free. But for how much longer, it's hard to tell.